According to The Detroit Free Press, free-agent P Kevin Walker has the Detroit Tigers "on top of the list" of teams he'd like to join. Walker, released earlier this month by the San Diego Padres, cited his relationship with Tigers manager Alan Trammell, whom he knew when Trammell was a coach for the Padres before rejoining the Tigers.

The Dayton Daily News's Hal McCoy reports free-agent 3B Aaron Boone (torn ACL) hopes to return late in the 2004 season from injury and play for a better contract after 2005. Half of the 30 teams have contacted Boone's agent regarding a below-market value deal for Boone to re-establish himself on the baseball canvas.

Updating an ongoing story, The Associated Press reports Venezuelan prosecutor Luisa Quevedo will decide within six months whether to charge free-agent P Ugueth Urbina with a crime for firing a gun last Friday in Venezuela.

Updating a previous item, The Associated Press is reporting a judge in Venezuela ruled free-agent P Ugueth Urbina was the victim of a robbery attempt when he fired his gun out a car window, and the judge has dismissed gun charges against Urbina.

The Associated Press is reporting free-agent P Ugueth Urbina has been arrested for allegedly firing gunshots into the air in an upscale Caracas neighborhood. Police arrested Urbina early Friday morning for firing a gun out the passenger window of an SUV, Chacao police chief Leonardo Diaz Paruta said in comments published Saturday in El Nacional newspaper.

The Associated Press is reporting free-agent P John Rocker (rotator cuff) expects to be throwing off a pitching mound again early next year after surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Rocker was released June 27 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, his third team since the Atlanta Braves traded him in 2001.

The AP reports former major league shortstop Jose Offerman signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Offerman was released by the Montreal Expos on the final day of spring training.

The AP reports 44-year-old free agent Rickey Henderson will sign this week with a team in the independent Atlantic League, his agent said Monday. Henderson narrowed his choice to three clubs based in New Jersey -- the Newark Bears, Camden Riversharks and Somerset Patriots.
Baseball's career leader in runs, stolen bases and walks wants to start playing as soon as possible, agent Jeff Borris said. The Atlantic League begins its regular season May 1, the earliest among independents.